Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can see where Senator Higgins is coming from. In fairness to the tribunal, however, and Ms Justice Mary Irvine, who has been appointed as its chair, where an application is made for a matter to be held in public, she will give serious consideration to it being held in public. There is no major concern about it being held in public. However, for people to take part in the tribunal, they have to agree to it. That includes the HSE and the laboratories. This is about getting everyone into the tribunal. This is not about hiding any information. In fact, many women would prefer it to be held in private rather than in public. However, if it arises that a person wants the matter to be held in public, the tribunal has that discretion. It is important that the tribunal has the discretion rather than to set it out in black and white that it must hold a hearing in public once an application is made. The tribunal has to take into account all the parties involved and I have no doubt the people who will be appointed to the tribunal will come to fair decisions in relation to determining any such applications.